University of California-San Diego
La Jolla, California · Public · 26.7% acceptance rate
ROI Score: 96/100 · Exceptional Value
Data: 2024-25 College Scorecard release
University of California-San Diego scores 96 (Exceptional Value) on the CampusROI scale. The earnings premium sub-score of 98 reflects a raw premium of 1.001. Net price averages $12,470; the 0-30000 income bracket pays $7,525 per year. The payback period is 3.8 years against $48,200 average 6-year earnings and a median $84,943 at 10 years. Computer Science (518 graduates, A grade, $112,006 year-one, $159,487 year-four) is the flagship program, and the year-one figure is $112k. Computer Engineering (174 graduates, A grade) and Mathematics and Computer Science (299 graduates, A grade) are the second and third STEM anchors. UCSD's research reputation in biosciences is reflected in strong earnings for Biomathematics/Bioinformatics (B+ grade, $76,592 year-one). Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges for UCSD.
Graduates recoup their total investment in just 3.8 years. The median across the schools we score is about 12 years.
University of California-San Diego
Quick Numbers
| In-state tuition + fees | $16,758/yr |
| Out-of-state tuition + fees | $50,958/yr |
| Average net price | $12,470/yr |
| Total 4-year cost (net) | $49,880 |
| Median earnings (10yr post-entry) | $84,943 |
| Average earnings (6yr post-entry) | $48,200 |
| Median debt at graduation | $15,500 |
| Estimated monthly loan payment | $164 |
| Estimated payback period | 3.8 years |
| 6-year graduation rate | 86.1% |
| Undergraduate enrollment | 34,948 |
Data as of 2024-2025. Source: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education).
The Full Financial Picture
The first number you'll see is the sticker price: $16,758/year ($50,958/year out-of-state), which covers tuition and fees only. After grants, scholarships, and aid, the average student here pays a net price of $12,470/year, or roughly $49,880 over four years. That's the number to plan around.
What you actually pay depends a lot on what your family earns. Families making under $30,000/year pay an average of $7,525/year here, while families earning over $110,000 pay $28,785/year.
Among graduates who borrowed, the median federal loan debt from this school is $15,500, which works out to about $164 a month on the standard 10-year repayment plan. Our debt-to-earnings ratio divides that debt by average earnings six years after entry ($48,200) and comes to 0.32, which in our view is comfortably manageable.
Net Price by Family Income
What families actually pay after grants and scholarships, by income bracket.
| Family Income | Avg Net Price/Year |
|---|---|
| $0 - $30,000 | $7,525 |
| $30,001 - $48,000 | $8,155 |
| $48,001 - $75,000 | $9,942 |
| $75,001 - $110,000 | $15,199 |
| $110,001+ | $28,785 |
Cost by Income Bracket Explained
Lower-income families (under $30K)
The 0-30000 income bracket pays $7,525 per year at UCSD - roughly $30,100 over four years. Against $48,200 average 6-year earnings and a 3.8-year institutional payback, low-income students from California face a strong cost-to-outcome ratio. CS and engineering graduates in this bracket recover their full four-year investment within approximately three months of their first paycheck.
Middle-income families ($30K-$110K)
The 48001-75000 bracket pays $9,942 and the 75001-110000 bracket pays $15,199. Both represent exceptional value for a 96-score research university. The broad earnings range across UCSD programs means middle-income families in technical majors recover costs quickly; humanities and social science graduates face longer payback windows but still benefit from the low net price.
Higher-income families ($110K+)
Families earning $110,000 or more pay $28,785 per year - roughly $115,000 over four years. For CS and engineering graduates earning $96k-$112k at year one, the payback period is approximately 14 months. For biology and humanities graduates with more modest year-one earnings, the payback extends to 5-10 years at this price level. The program selection decision is particularly consequential for full-pay families.
Earnings by Major
Top 10 most popular majors at University of California-San Diego with available earnings data.
| Major | Median Earnings | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Science | $81,160 | B |
| Computer Science | $159,487 | A |
| International/Globalization Studies | $81,174 | B |
| International Relations | $67,713 | C+ |
| Economics | $87,307 | B+ |
| Psychology | $51,679 | C |
| Public Health | $66,110 | B |
| Biology | $64,437 | C+ |
| Mathematics and Computer Science | $137,218 | A |
| Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods | $89,451 | B+ |
Earnings reflect median 4-year post-completion (or 1-year where 4-year unavailable). Grades based on debt-to-earnings ratio.
Program Analysis
Why these programs deliver their earnings outcomes.
Computer Science
Computer Science (518 graduates) earns an A grade: $112,006 year-one and $159,487 year-four with $16,550 median debt and a ratio of 0.148. The year-one figure is $112k. At $12,470 net price, CS graduates recover the full four-year cost of attendance in roughly two months of work. UCSD's CS program benefits from proximity to San Diego's technology sector and a strong Silicon Valley recruitment pipeline.
Computer Engineering
Computer Engineering (174 graduates) earns an A grade: $96,256 year-one and $149,139 year-four with $18,497 median debt and a ratio of 0.192. The year-four figure is $149k. Computer Engineering at UCSD spans semiconductor design, embedded systems, and software - skill sets directly matched to the major employers in San Diego County and the broader California technology sector.
Mathematics and Computer Science
Mathematics and Computer Science (299 graduates) earns an A grade: $89,651 year-one and $137,218 year-four with $18,887 median debt and a ratio of 0.211. This interdisciplinary program produces graduates with strong quantitative computing foundations; the year-one figure of $90k reflects placements in quantitative finance, software engineering, and data science. The four-year trajectory to $137k confirms strong career earnings growth.
Cognitive Science
Cognitive Science (722 graduates) earns a B grade: $39,839 year-one and $81,160 year-four with $17,481 median debt and a ratio of 0.439. Cognitive Science is UCSD's largest non-engineering Scorecard program. The year-one figure is modest but the four-year jump to $81k is substantial, reflecting graduates who move into technology product management, UX research, data analysis, and graduate programs.
Biology
Biology (316 graduates) earns a C+ grade: $34,504 year-one and $64,437 year-four with $17,667 median debt and a ratio of 0.512. Biology is among the largest programs at UCSD, drawing a significant pre-medical enrollment. Year-one earnings of $35k reflect graduates in research positions, graduate school, or early post-baccalaureate training. The four-year figure of $64k captures graduates who entered the workforce; medical school graduates would have substantially higher eventual earnings.
How Graduates Do
Earnings
Loan Repayment
| Metric | This School | Median of schools we score |
|---|---|---|
| 1-year repayment | 84.2% | 68.8% |
| 3-year repayment | 86.4% | 73.6% |
| 5-year repayment | 84.8% | 67.7% |
| 7-year repayment | 88.3% | 72.8% |
Completion Rate
Trends Over Time
How University of California-San Diego’s cost and outcomes have moved across College Scorecard releases (2009-2024).
Average Net Price
Completion Rate
Median Earnings, 10 Years After Entry (as reported)
Earnings reflect borrowers measured 10 years after entry and publish on an irregular cadence with a multi-year reporting lag, so this series shows only the years the Department of Education reported - the data is never interpolated.
Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard, release years shown. Net price and completion are reported annually.
Admissions Snapshot
| Acceptance rate | 26.7% |
| Enrollment | 34,948 |
| Pell Grant recipients | 34.2% |
| Avg faculty salary (monthly) | $19,117 |
The school's engineering and CS programs are among the most competitive tracks; biological sciences attract a large pre-medical applicant pool with lower near-term earnings figures. Scorecard does not report test score ranges.
Compared to Similar Schools
Peer institutions matched by type, size, and selectivity.
UCSD's ROI score is 96.
| School | ROI | Net Price | 10yr Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of California-San Diego (this school) | 96 | $12,470 | $84,943 |
| California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo | 96 | $16,665 | $90,768 |
| University of Michigan-Ann Arbor | 95 | $13,138 | $83,648 |
| University of Florida | 92 | $6,541 | $71,588 |
| The University of Texas at Austin | 90 | $19,857 | $75,121 |
| California State University-Bakersfield | 75 | $5,652 | $59,009 |
Head-to-Head ROI Comparisons
See University of California-San Diego side by side with similar schools on ROI, cost, earnings, and debt.
Who Thrives Here
UCSD admits 26.7% of applicants and enrolls 34,948 students in La Jolla, California. Scorecard does not report SAT or ACT score ranges. San Diego's technology and biotech industry cluster - including Qualcomm, defense contractors, and biotech firms - creates strong local demand for UCSD engineering and science graduates.
The Verdict: The Investment Pays Off
If you're asking whether University of California-San Diego is worth it, the short answer is yes - it's one of the strongest money decisions in higher education. Four years here run about $49,880 after aid, and the typical graduate earns $84,943 ten years out. That earnings head start covers the cost in roughly 3.8 years, well ahead of most schools.
What it has going for it: a strong earnings premium over high school graduates, its 86.1% graduation rate, manageable debt relative to earnings, high loan repayment success.
Median debt of $15,500 among graduates who borrowed, against average earnings of $48,200 six years after entry, gives a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32, under the 1.0 point at which debt would equal a full year of those earnings. Your major matters a lot here: graduates in higher-earning fields will see the better end of this.
University of California-San Diego: Common Questions
Is University of California-San Diego worth it?
In our view, yes - for most students University of California-San Diego pays off. It scores 96/100 on our ROI scale. You'd pay about $12,470 a year after aid ($49,880 over four years), and the typical graduate earns $84,943 ten years after enrollment, so the cost takes roughly 3.8 years to earn back.
How much does University of California-San Diego cost after financial aid?
The average net price - the cost of attendance (tuition, fees, books, supplies and average living costs) minus grants and scholarships, for full-time, first-time students receiving federal aid - is about $12,470 a year, or roughly $49,880 over four years. Because it counts living costs, it can run above tuition alone. That is the number to plan around. Actual cost varies by family income, per the U.S. Department of Education's College Scorecard.
What do University of California-San Diego graduates earn?
The typical graduate earns about $84,943 ten years after enrolling, roughly $43,143 a year more than the median high-school graduate ($41,800, per NCES, 2022). That earnings gap is what has to cover the cost of the degree.
How long does it take to pay off University of California-San Diego?
We estimate the payback period - the time it takes for the earnings bump over a high-school graduate to cover what you spent - at about 3.8 years for University of California-San Diego. The median across the schools we track is about 12 years.
How much debt do University of California-San Diego graduates take on?
Among graduates who borrowed, median federal loan debt from this school is about $15,500, against average earnings of $48,200 six years after entry - a debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.32. In our view that is reasonable, though your major matters: higher-earning fields will see the better end of it.
What is the graduation rate at University of California-San Diego?
The six-year graduation rate is 86.1%, at or above the 64% national average for four-year schools (NCES, 2022). Completion is 15% of our ROI score, since a degree you don't finish rarely pays back.
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Data: College Scorecard API (U.S. Department of Education)
Vintage: 2024-2025 · Last updated: 2026-03-25
Earnings reflect median outcomes for all federal financial aid recipients. Individual results vary by major, effort, and career path.